Finger-moistener.



No- 805,469. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905.

J. M. KEEP.

FINGER MOISTENER. APPLIOATION rum) Mums, 1905.

UNITED STATES JAMES M. KEEP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FINGER-MOISTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1905.

Application filed March 29, 1905. Serial No. 252,665.

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. KEEP, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFinger-Moisteners,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices and methods for moistening the tips ofthe fingers. Such devices are most commonly known as sponge-cups and areused by bankers and others when counting paper money and by book andpamphlet binders and others when counting or arranging papers.

My device consists of a body portion or reservoir, a spherical ball ormoistener, and means by which to retain the ball-in position, theconstruction and operation of which are hereinafter fully described andexplained, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and lettersreferring thereto.

Figure 1 is a top view of the device; Fig. 2, a vertical central sectionof the moistener complete with removable cover, the ball-re taining capbeing screwed to the neck of the reservoir, the inner surface of theneck serving as a guide for the ball; Fig. 3, a vertical central sectionshowing supplementary guide for the ball.

In the drawings, A is the reservoir;-B, the ball; 0, the cover; R, theretaining-cap; Gr, the guide; F, the flange; M, the metalguide; S, thescrew-thread.

The object of my invention is to provide at a nominal cost a verysimple, convenient, and efiective finger-moistener that may dispensewith the sponge and cup, which is ever exposed to dust and evaporation.Therefore it is very uncertain as to when the sponge will be in acleanlyand properly-moistened condition for use. Moreover, the sponge-seldompresents a suitable surface for quickly and delicately moistening thefingers; besides, it often emits and imparts to the fingers a putridodor. My invention obviates all of these objections. Itis composed of asuitably-shaped body portion to form the reservoir A. Into thisreservoir I insert the ball B, and there confine it with the cap R. Thereservoir may be made plain or ornamental, of glass, porcelain, metal,or other suitable material, with expanded sides and a contracted openingat the top of a size to admit the ball. (See Fig.

2.) The inside depth of the reservoir should be from one-eighth toone-fourth (as size may indicate) of an inch more than two-thirds thediameter of the ball. The ball should be hol low or made of very lightmaterial, impervious to moisture, and having an absorbent surface,whichmay be effected by covering or coating the ball or by denselyindenting its surface. As shown in Fig. 2, the ballis retained inposition and in the reservoir by a screw-cap R, said cap being disk-likeand made of metal, hard rubber, celluloid, or other suitable material.This cap has an opening in its center large enough to allow aboutone-third of the ball rising above its surface. (See Fig. 2.) The innersurface of the male screw serves as a guide to keep the ball in acentral position. When thus constructed, the cap may be taken off andthe ball removed at pleasure. As shown in Fig. 3, the retain ing-cap Rand the guide M are of metal and integral and of tubular form, having anin ward-turned flange F to resist the ball and an outward-turned flangeor rim to serve as a support and means by which to fasten the guide inthe opening of the reservoir. In either form of construction the openingin the cap or flange should only be large enough to allow the ball toproject upward about onethird of its diameter. (See Figs. 2 and 3.)These parts having been constructed and combined substantially asdescribed and shown and to operate as hereinafter explained constitutemy improved finger-moistener.

It may be observed that the ball is less in diameter than the innerdiameter of the guide. This isnto allow of free motion pf theflballwlien in use. [he spaceb iween the bottom ofthjfiesefvoir and the underside of the ball is to admit of the ball being depressed from contactwith the flange and to admit of the reservoir being filled or emptiedwithout removing the cap. The reservoir being filled or partly filledwith water, the ball will rise and project upward through the opening,thus serving as an automatic stopper, and above the cap to admit ofbeing turned in any direction by the slightest touch of the finger. Tomoisten the finger or fingers lightly, place it or them upon the top ofthe ball and move them in any direction which will turn up a moistenedsurface and evenly and delicately moisten the finger or fingers. Thusthe operation may be continued weeks and months without inconvenience.To insure buoyancy and delicacy of touch, the ball should be perfectlyround, ridged, and as light as possible and have a slightly-absorbentsurface to insure a supply of moisture.

I am aware that the means or method of confining the ball in position inthe reservoir may be varied to suit fancy without departing from themerits of my invention.

WhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by United StatesLetters Patent, is-

1. lnadevice for moistening the fingers, in combination, the ball, aremovable disk-like cap and a water-reservoir having an expanded bodyportion contracted at the top to form a central openingand a rim aroundthe opening having aScrew-thread upon its outer surface, by which toconfine said cap made of metal or other suitable material, said caphaving a central opening through its disk of sufficient size to allowthe ball to project upward through the disk and to operate as shown anddescribed.

2. A device for moistening the fingers and similar purposescomprising aspherical ball, a removable disk-like cap and a reservoir having anexpanded body portion contracted at the top to form a central openingsurrounded by a rim having upon its outer surface means by which toconfine thereon said cap of metal or of other suitable material, saidcap having a central opening through its disk by which when attached tothe rim of the reservoir, to retain the ball in a central position andallow it to project upward through the disk as and for the purpose shownand described.

3. A finger-moistener comprising a spherical ball a reservoir having anexpanded body contracted to form a central opening and means as a tubeto form lateral antifrictionbearings for the ball and retain the same inposition, substantially as shown and described.

4. A finger-moistener comprising a spherical ball, a reservoir having anexpanded body contracted at the top to form a central opening to whichmay be attached by any suitable means a cap of metal or other material,said cap having a central opening to retain the ball in position andallow it to project upward through the disk, as and for the purposedescribed and shown.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 27th day of March, A. D. 1905.

JAMES M. KEEP.

Witnesses:

AROHIBALD L. VAN NEss, (J. W. LUMDGE.

